Immunologic response in chickens from different genetic lines to Rous sarcoma virus.

Twelve young chickens of the Tumor Progressor and Tumor Regressor Lines were studied in respect to their humoral immunologic response to challenge with Rous sarcoma virus via inoculation into the wing web. On day 1, prior to virus inoculation and on days 10, 15, and 20 after injection of virus, the birds were bled and their serums tested for the presence of anti-RSV factors by standard procedures of serum-neutralization tests. From the conducting of statistical analyses of the data, it was determined that a strong association occurs between an early, increasing, and sustained presence of biologically active anti-RSV factors in the blood of the chicken and its ability to effect complete regression of the Rous sarcoma.